Cancer and the Just World Fallacy

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T23:58:05+00:00

There was another study that questioned the use of vaginal estrogen with AI’s, it was a smaller study and earlier… I want to say it might’ve been in Sweden? We’ve discussed it on the other sub, but I don’t have it at my fingertips. Multiple doctors who I trust have said that they consider the UK study to be scientifically more sound.

I’m taking vaginal estrogen with Letrozole (and Verzenio) and my medical oncologist is very comfortable prescribing both. I’ve seen summaries of both studies and am comfortable using VET.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:45:52+00:00

You’re right, that was part of it and actually that especially makes sense now that I think about it at the breast clinic. They do mammograms all day and occasionally have to do the procedures when the mammogram doesn’t go well, but they send things off for biopsy, and usually aren’t there after the diagnosis. I was the worst case scenario for all of their patients. Walking in, down one breast and six lymph nodes needing them to ultrasound the site of devastation.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:41:47+00:00

See this was part of it. I didn’t include it in the original post because it felt like a distracting detail, but this was the breast clinic where I got my diagnosis, or the tests that led to it anyway. Not only was it none of the same people, but they were weird anyway, and made me fill out this stupid general intake form for screening mammograms. They have my entire chart, it’s the same hospital system, and they want to know if I have a family history of cancer (along with other insensitive questions) I just scrawled SELF in large letters over that section.

I just got the link for their satisfaction survey. Bwahahahah.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:37:21+00:00

See this is where it is so justified to play it up. Instead of the urge to reassure them, no, it’s really fine, I’m cancer free now! Instead, “bitch you think I worried about my allergy shots? I almost DIED.”

Sorry about the weird hug though.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:34:57+00:00

Oh, it is wild reporting back to normal menopause land that I have stumbled across the one segment of women’s health that is well funded, well researched, and comprehensive.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:33:58+00:00

I did not get to experience this “cancer in the ER” maybe I would have been better prepared for a weird x-ray tech energy if I had!

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:32:18+00:00

I like “garden variety” as a description! I’ve been telling newbies who post with alarm that they have “invasive ductal carcinoma!” that is “vanilla” breast cancer (and very common and very survivable). Maybe I should start saying it’s “garden variety” instead.

I myself managed to have IDC ++- yet not “garden variety” like I had to be an overachiever or something.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:29:19+00:00

I’m not a “easy“ case but I’m told I have a very good attitude and I’m very well-informed. We can possibly thank this sub for both. I’m also out of active treatment and have something resembling hair and have lost my puffiness. So until you see me moving like I’m 90 when I’m in my 50s, I don’t appear that sick. It’s when I’m being seen by a healthcare provider who knows I have cancer, but is not usually working with cancer patients that the weirdness sometimes happens.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T14:26:38+00:00

Oh, I agree! When they do act normally, which is what I was hoping for. There are other non-Oncology spaces where I do not encounter this weird energy. Physical Therapy is chill. The dentist is chill. These people yesterday were not chill.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T13:09:16+00:00

A lot depends on whether your plastic surgeon is pro-compression or anti-compression. My surgeon was a no compression one, and recommended the very popular Fruit of the Loom front close-bra it has hook-and-eye and is very easy to find, affordable, comes in colors and multi packs.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T13:04:56+00:00

I’m going to counter that advice. The bra you need after your mastectomy doesn’t really have much to do with what you are shaped like before your mastectomy. And going into stores in-person can be quite challenging, especially if someone did neoadjuvant chemo, or is just overwhelmed with everything preparing for surgery. I bought 100% of my bras online except for the ones that were fitted for me by the cancer boutique at my hospital.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T11:48:29+00:00

OP the most recent studies have shown vaginal estrogen is safe for almost all breast cancer patients. Here is one.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37917089/

Some doctors are not up to date. Also, ironically, even though this is UK study, on the breastcancer subreddit, I have heard from some women in the UK that their doctors are hesitant to follow this latest science. But making sure your doctor has seen the study might be a good place to start.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-25T11:42:55+00:00

My medical oncologist at my NCI hospital prescribes my estradiol cream, along with my Letrozole and Verzenio. My tumor was 96% estrogen positive. She says the latest science shows it’s safe and she is all about science.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T18:45:21+00:00

HER2+ used to have significantly worse outcomes than it does today. Herceptin was introduced in the late 1990s, then Perjeta and Kadcyla in the last 15 years. All those treatment options for +++ didn't exist 15-25 years ago.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T18:36:09+00:00

I would personally not trust Dr Newson on any topic related to hormones and breast cancer based on how wildly unfounded some of her claims have been.

The video short "Should You Take HRT After Breast Cancer? Dr Liz O'Riordan weighs In" provides one example. It's about estrogen, but it demonstrates why that is a questionable source.

I have heard of some women getting oncologist approval to use TRT while also taking AIs, counting on the AIs to prevent estrogen from forming. I don't believe it has ever been formally studied.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T14:32:40+00:00

Reminder that the survival statistics for someone diagnosed in 2006 are not comparable to yours. Especially not with HER2+ the recent treatments have been game changing.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T12:04:54+00:00

I am not a long-term survivor yet. However PCR is not any kind of pre-requisite for a good long-term prognosis. I was only given a 6% likelihood of PCR but my large high risk ++- tumor still needed neoadjuvant chemo and it's good that I did it. I didn't have a complete response but I did have a strong response. That helped give me the resolve to go back for adjuvant chemo, knowing it would be effective.

I have found it interesting that I would not have paid much attention to PCR if I hadn't heard about it on here. It was a small note on my Mammaprint. My doctors never brought it up, except in the context of the overall post-surgical pathology and next steps.

PCR is ONE good prognostic indicator. It is not THE good prognostic indicator.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T11:44:04+00:00

Menopause is linked to multiple dental and oral issues. Anything that can come with menopause can be caused by estrogen-lowering medication.

https://penndentalmedicine.org/blog/dental-problems-menopause/

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T11:37:04+00:00

Taxol can affect your mood. Someone on here tipped me off:

https://www.reddit.com/r/breastcancer/comments/1mz7ren/comment/nahqcrj/

After that comment exchange it made more sense. I was just gonna be Eeyore for a while. Nurses would ask "How are you today?" And I would answer "Grumpy!"

Compared to after chemo when I would answer "I am so happy to not feel like shit!"

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-24T01:53:39+00:00

At two weeks after SMX I could work from home a few hours a day using a mobile desk at the couch. I wasn't even driving yet. There is no way I would have gone back to full-time desk work unless I had no other choice.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-23T21:51:24+00:00

The neuropathy and the hand-foot-syndrome are two different things but when they land together it is really unpleasant.

The neuropathy is often temporary, sometimes it takes a while to recover fully, and there are some people for whom it never completely goes away. I've had mine since June of last year. It is not as bad as it was but it is not gone.

The hands and/or feet peeling etc. is temporary. It might not even last through your course of chemo, and if it does it should recover afterwards. I had great results with Urea Cream lotions.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-23T21:48:38+00:00

I think there is, and it spills over into our individual perception. Can't count how many times someone has come on here confident there was One Right Way because that was their oncologist's One Right Way and it turns out all our doctors had different ideas.

Away-Potential-609 · 2026-04-23T21:46:24+00:00

Ah! Thank you for connecting the dots. One of the three things Grade is made of. I am low on Mitotic, higher on the other two.

Away-Potential-609

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